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Heels Face Louisville's Guard Threat
22 Feb
Summary
- North Carolina Tar Heels secured a crucial 77-64 victory over Syracuse.
- Henri Veesaar has returned to the Tar Heels' lineup.
- Louisville's offense is led by potent guards averaging over 18 points.
The North Carolina Tar Heels secured a much-needed 77-64 victory over the Syracuse Orange on Saturday. This win was further bolstered by the return of center Henri Veesaar, who had missed the previous two games.
The Tar Heels have a quick turnaround as they prepare to host the Louisville Cardinals on Monday night. Louisville also enters this matchup with momentum, having defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 87-70.
A key challenge for North Carolina will be defending Louisville's prolific guard play. Cardinals guards Jarod Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell each average over 18 points per game, a type of offensive threat that has historically troubled the Tar Heels.
Jarod Brown Jr., in particular, has been in exceptional form, averaging 30.5 points over his last four games. North Carolina's ability to limit his scoring opportunities and control the defensive glass, where they outrebounded Syracuse 35-28, will be crucial.
Furthermore, the Tar Heels' backcourt production needs to improve. In recent losses, starting guards Seth Trimble and Derek Dixon struggled significantly, shooting a combined 3-of-26 from the field in games against Miami and North Carolina State.
